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The Good Neighbor

The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

by Maxwell King

Narrator LeVar Burton

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Length 14 hours 7 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“A wonderful biography of an American icon who seemed too good to be true. And yet, believe it or not, he was an even better, more caring man than he portrayed on television. If you are a fan of Fred Rogers and want to understand what drove him to create Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, this is an essential read. Learning more about Rogers’ life through the words of his family and friends in this well-researched and comprehensive biography will give you even more reason to admire the man. And when’s the last time a biography made you cry tears of joy?”
— James Wilson • Octavia Books

Bookseller recommendation

“For many, Mister Rogers was a childhood friend of sorts. With him multiple generations learned about feelings, how things work and about different people. In this book you get to learn about why those lessons mattered so much and how they were developed. Moreover, you get to start the book with the old familiar intro song and then switch to another familiar childhood education television voice as LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow reads the book. This is the type of book that leaves you feeling better after reading it. It hits all the nostalgia points and also reminds you to look for the good in things.”
— Rene • R & B Used Books

Summary
About the author

#25 in Bestselling Education Audiobooks

Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and questions about the world seriously.

The Good Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development. An engaging story, rich in detail, The Good Neighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations.

Biography & Memoir Education Nonfiction

Maxwell King is the CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation. After a career in journalism, including eight years as editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, King served as president of the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments for nearly a decade.